Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 26th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Mar 26 at
4:19PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A sunny start, frosty in England and Scotland; freezing levels at middle heights in Wales. Some snow showers north and west Scotland early. High cloud builds from the west; patchy snow and rain arrive afternoon, spread east, and increase in frequency into night. Rain increasingly to higher slopes as temperature rises.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery early, easing; sunny bursts, rain later from the west
How windy? (On the Munros)
At dawn, northwesterly 25-35mph, strongest high eastern hills, where may reach 40mph very early. Easing and shifting westerly, 15-20mph. Beginning to reorient southwesterly late in the day, restrengthening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
In the morning, walking impeded in exposure with wind chill, more strenuous in the east. Effects will ease to fairly small.
How Wet?
Some afternoon snow/rain from the west
Risk of a few light snow showers east of Ben Macdui, elsewhere dry. Through afternoon, some patchy snow/refrozen rain arrives to westernmost mountains. Into evening, drizzle and snow flurries more frequent on tops, rain level rising to summits and rain spreads more widely.
Cloud on the hills?
Largely clear, then lowering through afternoon, extensive by dusk
At dawn, patchy cloud may cling to the high tops, this soon lifting for cloud-free hills. Through afternoon, cloud will lower to the tops, first in the west, further lowering and spreading east, extensive over high terrain by dusk, lowest bases south and west, as low as 400-500m Drumochter overnight.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, lowering to 30% or lower by evening
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine in the morning, gradually weakened by high cloud, overcast by evening. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C, gradually rising -1C afternoon, then sharply rising into evening, 3 to 5C for several overnight hours, mildest north Cairngorms. Feeling like -15C in early wind.
Freezing Level
Fairly widespread frost at dawn including into glens. Rising, 600-700m afternoon, then sharply rising near dusk, above the summits several overnight hours.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 27th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Mar 26 at
4:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25-35mph, trending towards higher speeds with time, 45mph into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly strenuous in exposure with significant wind chill, conditions deteriorating as dusk approaches.
How Wet?
Afternoon snow showers, mostly west
Patchy overnight rain fades approaching dawn. Showers arrive from the west, snow to 600m, and largely confined to Monadhliath/Drumochter area until late in the day, spreading further east with heavier falls.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high western terrain, often broken
Some ragged patches of cloud at several elevations at dawn but these dissipating after sunrise. Banks of cloud occasionally drift over the high tops, most often west during showers, as low as 800-900m afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, lowering to 50% west afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent bright sunshine, turning to a patchwork afternoon, most cloud west. Very good visibility, though suddenly poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C early, sunny slopes may briefly rise a degree; lowering, -3 or -2C into night. Feeling like -13 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 800m at dawn, lowering to 600-700m through the day.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 28th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Mar 26 at
4:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 40 to 50mph, but likely 60mph higher Cairngorms at least in morning. Gales likely strengthen again into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging mobility on higher mountains at least in morning, frequent buffeting all day. Significant-to-severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers
Showers spreading from the west in the morning, mostly areas near and west of the A9, hail and snow falling to lower elevations. Scattered showers extend eastward, tending to ease from west during afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches over tops, lifting higher
Varied cloud capping higher slopes in the morning above 800-1000m, lowest around showers near the A9. Lifting above higher slopes increasingly often into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun. Visibility often very good, but reduced at times to briefly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0 or +1C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
600-700m in morning, plus frost in sheltered glens around dawn, rising to 900-1000m afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Thursday starts chilly with clear skies for many, snow then rain moves into western areas with time. Strong northwesterly winds prevail as the weekend starts, brining cooler temperatures and a mix of showers and sun across most areas, the showers likely snowy to middle elevations with some hail mixed in. The cool, spring-like conditions will allow showers to become heavier and more widespread in the afternoon. Sunday into next week sees high pressure southwest of the country, producing drier weather with sun breaks, a trend towards milder temperatures too, but several low pressure systems to the north draw bands of rain eastward, mostly affecting Scotland, occasionally northern England and Wales. A risk of cooler northerly winds re-establishing later in the week, though detail is uncertain.